While Macri jokes about the running mindset -- "We're all insane," he says -- Koons brims with effusive energy. Running is her escape. Alone on the trail, the Central Catholic junior uses the minutes to pray and think.

"If I was coming in last," she said, "I'd still be running."

They are individuals with different styles and attitudes, but their paths converged on Friday afternoon at Lehigh when both became the first champions in the history of the Lehigh Valley Conference.

Macri won the boys' title in a time of 16:27.5, and Koons captured the girls' in 18:58.9. In addition, Parkland earned the team trophies -- the boys scored 35 points to finish ahead of Easton (86), and the Parkland girls had 38 to top second-place Central Catholic (46).

"Everything is about our team this year," Macri said. "It's so great to have a team that really cares about the sport like they do."

But on Friday, he also had a personal goal. Macri finished second to Liberty's Dorian McDonald in the 2001 Mountain Valley Conference meet. This time, he wanted to win on one of his favorite courses.

"There's a good hill right at the start of the second mile where I can really make up ground," Macri said. "I just took off at a pace that no one else could keep up with."

Emmaus' Sam Luff took second in 16:41.5.

Like Macri, Koons found herself running alone by the end of the race. Parkland's Paula Giguere was nearly 20 seconds behind her in 19:17.5.

"I normally start my first mile faster," Koons said. "This one, I paced a little bit better. The second mile, I just took off. My mom was standing right there cheering, so it was nice."

Koons started running when she was in fourth grade, and Macri took up the sport when he was cut from the soccer team as a freshman. By last year, however, both had established themselves among the area's best. Macri finished eighth in the 2001 District 11 meet, and Koons was fifth at districts and 22nd at states.